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Bringing Old School Retro Trucks Back - Mini Truckin’ Originals

One Readers' Past and Present

By Chris “Lucky” Brewer

Mini Truckin', March 21, 2014

This month, I’d like to hand over my page to a letter (email) that was sent in by a dedicated reader of this column. Although we don’t do this very often, I think it’s a good idea to share the insight from an outside source. With that out of the way, the floor is yours, Michael.

Dear Mini Truckin’,

First, I have to say great job on the magazine! I’m a born again reader and the first time I reopened the magazine in June/July last year and saw you guys doing retro throwbacks, I knew I wasn’t the only one that still loves their first mini. Well, you guys called for retro stories on retro builds, so I would love to share mine. I’ll try to keep it short and simple.

When I was 18/19, I was strung by the mini truckin’ custom car craze due to the fact I was living in south Florida in the early ’90s. My truck was an 1985 Chevrolet S-10 (pic included). It was lowered with set of rims, purple and green neons underneath, half primered to qualified for under construction classes at shows. That was my daily and I had big plans.

So after a few months I finally convinced my mother of helping fund my build of the Chevy S-10, but plans fell out due to my mother falling ill and passing away months after. So, I was 19 with no job and no family in Florida, I was forced to sell the truck and move up here to New Hampshire with family. That was January 1994.

Now lets jump ahead 19 years. A couple of kids and two ex-wives later, I found myself bored with my life, hating the high gas prices, and hating what I was driving. I set out on a quest to find my unicorn. Over the years I have wanted to build another mini but the Mrs. at the time always had the last say. I always dreamt of an old ’90s Nissan or Mazda truck, so I searched for four months for the right one.

Now I’d like to introduce my “new” ’93 Nissan Hardbody, which I call “Redemption.” It’s only lowered with Nissan 4x4 rims at the moment, but it’s a brand-new start. I know right now the truck is not much of a magazine pin-up, but my plans are to keep it very ’90s with a twist of modern style and function.

There are three trucks that I remember that graced your pages back in the ’90s that are inspiring me on my build. The first one was a Nissan single cab custom primered green, which is believed to be of the first to have air ride, but it had air shocks not ’bags. Second was a Hardbody x-cab that was cut into a Unibody convertible. I remember it met its fate in an auto accident and your mag published a photo after. Lastly, there was an older S-10 x-cab from Daytona Beach, which was a father and son project. It was all lit up in blue neon, and even had some kind of louvers on the hood that glowed too. Also, I can’t forget the cover with two Nissans (a yellow and red one).

Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Thanks for reading and I’ll try to keep ya updated, and hopefully finish the build soon.

Once a lowlife, always a lowlife,
Michael Burgoyne

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By Chris “Lucky” Brewer

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